24-28" Axe and Axe head Recommendation

B

bleungzorz

Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
6
Hi,

I recently acquired a Gransfors Bruks SFA and it is a bit short for car camping. It's perfectly find for backpacking, but I really had trouble felling some 12" while in the wilderness.
I have a handle from an old 36" axe that split at the top, so sawed off the head and now I'm left with a handle that is 30" and an old Hults Bruks axe head.

I'm thinking about refitting the shortened handle with a 2-3lb head so that it would resemble a GB Scandinavian forest axe
Anyone have any ideas on what would be a good head for this?

I've done research onto axes, but mostly new ones like gransfors bruks, so I'm very, very confused between the older brands, so I have a few questions:

1. In the Kelly line, is there a difference in quality between the various lines like Axe and Tool Co, West Virginia, NY, True Temper, Kelly Perfect? For Collins, the concensus is legitimus is the best brand? What about Plumb.
2. Is there a difference in metallurgy between time periods, and countries of origin (CA, United States, Sweden).
3. And for car camping, mostly felling, splitting relatively small pieces, and building benches/tripods/shelters, what would be a good weight and axe-profile.
4. When buying old, is there a certain amount of head that can be saved if the bit is chipped? How far would I be able to grind back before it hits soft steel?

I'm looking for something under $40, so a new gransfors head is out of the question.

Thanks in advanced!
 
Measure the handle at the top and about 4" below the top, I think you might find that there is not enough wood there for even boys axe eye. There is a wide range of eye sizes for axe heads but I suspect the only think you are going to get on what is left on your handle is more of a hatchet eye. I have a handle downstairs just like yours, 36" and I cut it down to 30" to get below a split. Now I will be cutting it on down to about 16-17" for a 1.75 Carpenters hatchet head that I have. There was not enough wood left for any of the boys axe sized heads that I had lying around.

That being said, I do have one Plumb boys axe rafting axe head that has a very small eye but is already mounted. I have picked up a couple of pretty decent used boys axes complete for around 40.00 on that auction site. I actually just got an unbranded boys axe with nice handle for 17.00So maybe that is an option and look at flea markets or yard sales for a sub 5.00 hatchet head for your handle.

Bill
 
Thanks bill. I have measured it, and can scrape by with two. I will have more towards the 28" handle that way, which I am fine with.

Thanks Smash05, but I want to buy something less than 40; preferably something with character. Not that the council tool Boys axe is bad or anything, I prefer to buy an older model for the time being.

Anyone have any suggestions on the quality of axes for older brands/lines?
 
Thank you Steve Tall! that was the exact thing I was looking for!

Any discussion on the quality of steel between the different manufacturers?
 
Any of the True Temper, Kelly Works axes are good quality tools. Through filing them, I think the Flint Edge, Kelly Perfect and Falls City bits are the hardest. I love Kelly Works axes, but I have a Lippincott that seems to have pretty soft bits. To be fair, I haven't filed on my Vulcan or Dynamic yet.
 
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